CHOOSE ONE:
1.) Marlow hates lies and at the edge of darkness seems to connect himself to the inexplicable nirvana (think back to the Buddha imagery) of truth. How does this affect his loyalty to Kurtz?
2.) What does Kurtz' attempt to escape off the boat and back into the jungle demonstrate about his "sickness" and its impact? Is this connected to Marlow's sickness in any way? If so, how? If not, why not?
3.) Marlow feels compelled to give up all that remained of Kurtz - "his memory and his Intended" to the past. Why does he feel this way? Do you believe Kurtz deserves to have his memory passed on to his Intended? Why or why not?
Marlow feels compelled to give up all that is remaining to his intended because "its a way to surrender personally all that remained of him with me (Marlow) to that oblivion which is the last word of our common faith." I believe Kurtz should have his memory passed on to his intended because of he plans to pass on Kurtz' remaining to his intended even though Kurtz is a horrible person. He still remains loyal to him even after death so I believe Marlow should have the same chance.
ReplyDeleteI also agree that Kurtz's memory should be passed to his intended. Kurtz has done many horrific things in his life but had managed to stay truthful during the whole time and by passing on his memory to his intended, he is eliminating more secrets that he has been hiding about his actions in the Congo.
DeleteI agree that his memory should be passed on. Even those people who we consider to be pure evil still have their memories passed. I also agree with Aaron that passing on the memories eliminates some of the secrets that have been hidden in the Congo.
DeleteThe quote that you picked out was perfect in your explanation! I like how you showed that Marlow should get the same chance also.
DeleteYour use of the quote really goes well with your explanation. I agree how even though Kurtz was a horrible person, Marlow is still willing to be loyal to him and that he should also have a chance.
Delete3. Throughout this passage Marlow repeats numerous times, "He was a remarkable man." He explains all the bad things while at the same time highlighting his good qualities. Marlow has come to accept what Kurtz did and learns to respect him. Marlow says, "I remained to dream the nightmare out to the end, and to show my loyalty to Kurtz once more. Destiny. My destiny (pg 65)!" He then says later on, "All that had been Kurtz's had passed out of my hands: his soul, his body, his station, his plans, his ivory, his career. There remained only his memory and his Intended-and I wanted to give that up, too, to the past, in a way-to surrender personally all that remained of him with me to that oblivion... (pg 67). I think his destiny is to complete Kurtz's. Marlow spent the majority of the novel just trying to reach Kurtz, and when he finally gets there he dies and Marlow obtains everything he has. The idea of Buddhism is seen throughout the novel, and it is present in this sense with the idea of reincarnation. Marlow is the "reincarnation" of Kurtz, and therefore Marlow feels like he is obligated to finish what Kurtz started. While Marlow does admit that he hesitated at the edge of the cliff and didn't fall like Kurtz did, he does find it is duty to go to Kurtz's Intended in a sense of closure. Kurtz is a very bad man, yes, but he also has many good qualities. Every person has a sense of evil in them, but it is our job to bring out the good. Therefore, I do think that Kurtz deserves to have his memory passed on. Good people can do bad things, but you can't hold that against him. His Intended deserves to know what happened and how Kurtz passed, so in that view I think Kurtz deserves to have Marlow pass his memory to his Intended.
ReplyDeleteI agree that every person has evil in them. I never thought about Marlow being a reincarnation of Kurtz, it is an interesting idea. It is also interesting that it is Marlow's duty to pass of Kurtz' memory to his Intended.
DeleteI like how you said that it is Marlow's job to bring out the good in Kurtz. Marlow has seen that Kurtz truely was horrified by his actions and wanted to repent but was to far into being evil, so bringing out the good of Kurtz for others through his memory is a great idea.
DeleteI agree that Kurtz had bad in him, but he there was still good. I think that at that moment of death, Kurtz truly realized what he had done.
DeleteI get what you are saying about Marlow having to finish what Kurtz started but i think there is a better word than "reincarnation". Good idea though and great quotes to support your point!
DeleteThis goes back to the Tempest & the play.. the concept of second-chances and who they should be given to.. I don't know if anything would have changed if Kurtz was given another chance just because he took such passion in it and satisfaction.
DeleteI never though of Marlow as being a reincarnation of Kurtz. I like that idea. I agree that every person has a sense of evil in them, but I also believe that they have a sense of good in them as well. Kurtz started out good, and the evil was brought out as a result of his time in the Congo.
DeleteWhat an intriguing idea! I thought Marlow seemed to have the responsibility to carry on Kurtz's memories but not his actions. I think Marlow is, in a sense, a much kinder being than Kurtz is - not consumed by the darkness. He notices the evil working around him. However, Kurtz's reincarnation could be another explanation.
DeleteMarlow, as stated, is a person who admires the truth being told and despises lies. Due to that mindset within him, I see his loyalty to Kurtz increase significantly in the time leading up to and following Kurtz's death. The reason behind this is because Marlow sees that Kurtz spoke his mind and never tried to hide from the actions he committed while in the Congo, "This is the reason why I affirm that Kurtz was a remarkable man. He had something to say. He said it." Marlow saw that Kurtz always spoke what he really believed: his wanting to continue his ideas, his desire for fame and wealth, his thoughts, and was truthfull to not only Marlow but himself as well. In the end Kurtz saw ALL that he did in his own life, down to each cruel detail, and realized that he had committed atrocities without lying to himself and saying that all he did was for good. That complete truthfulness of Kurtz, even in his final days, was a light to Marlow that eminated from the horrors that Kurtz created and allowed Marlow to keep his loyalty to him and not give in to the many others who wanted to take Kurtz's posessions for their own gain.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea that Marlow finds his loyalty with Kurtz through the fact that Kurtz never tried to hide his actions in the Congo. Especially at the end of his life when the other managers think they are doing good and Kurtz realizes that what they are doing is, in fact, horror.
DeleteI totally agree about Marlow being loyal because Kurtz always spoke his mind! This is shown in the part with the journalist, when he says he was a bad writer but always had something to say. He was not hypocritical like the other people were! Great post!
DeleteKurtz's attempt to escape off the boat and back into the jungle displays how his sickness has turned him mad. He still has "immense plans" to increase the ivory supply. Kurtz believes that he can still do everything but he is in fact dying. "...the heavy mute spell of the wilderness..." makes Kurtz crazy because he is so obsessed with ivory. Kurtz's physical sickness along with his greed resembles Marlow's sickness because Marlow is going somewhat crazy in the jungle as well. He starts to believe lies that come from Kurtz and Marlow is still obsessed with Kurtz even though Kurtz has cause major damage to the Congo and the natives.
ReplyDeleteI like how you pointed out despite how truthful Kurtz is he still caused major damage to the Congo.
DeleteI think Marlow is obsessed with Kurtz because of the damage he has done, yet his refusal to hide it.
DeleteI like that you show that even though it is harming him (because he needs to be nursed back to health), he is still obsessed with the ivory and wants to go back for more. I also like that you pointed out how the jungle made the men crazy (like the anticipation guide question). Great post!
DeleteYour perspective really highlights Kurtz's ambition even if it is to persue things that seem crazy. In addition to you point that Kurtz has gone crazy, Marlow even says about Kurtz that "his soul was mad."
DeleteI agree with you about how you think that Kurtz was trying to escape and wants to keep getting ivory even though he's sick. I like how you connected his craziness to him wanting to escape.
DeleteMarlow's loyalty is seen to grow stronger as Kurtz is coming to his death. Kurtz is indirectly who Marlow wishes to be and since Kurtz never hides the truth, Marlow LOVES that about him. I find it ironic that Marlow hates lies so much; however, he lies to Kurtz intended to hide this real "heart of darkness" personality. Also- the reason Marlow remains loyal to Kurtz is more complicated and is because of the danger of idealism. This in seen on pages 64-65 from “One evening coming in with a candle . . .’” to “‘a soul as translucently pure as a cliff of crystal."
ReplyDeleteI liked your take on Marlow's obsession with Kurtz. I agree that he is fascinated by his ruthlessness and determination to achieve his goals, despite the fact that he may be endangering the native Africans in the process.
DeleteYou gave a good view of how Marlow is trying to be like Kurtz. I agree that Marlow's loyalty grows as Kurtz is closer to death. Do you think this still would have happened if Kurtz was not on his deathbed?
DeleteMarlow's hatred of lies strengthens his loyalty to Kurtz as he respects Kurtz for not hiding his actions. Unlike the manager, Kurtz gives up any attempt at coating his actions with an image of charity. Marlow respects this blunt honesty and refusal to lie even though Kurtz's actions are terrible. The manager and the other likely commit many similarly attrocious acts, however they hide it behind the curtain of "civilization." As a result, Marlow cannot stand the manager and the pilgrims while he respects Kurtz. Besides this, Kurtz also seems to realize a personal truth at the moment of his death, similar to a stage of enlightenment. This moment of realization causes him to utter "the horror! the horror!." This last minute realization of truth impresses Marlow and causes him to feel even more loyal to Kurtz. Marlow sees Kurtz as a role model in this respect and remarks that he wishes to reach that same state of self realization and understanding at the moment of his death and he admires Kurtz for reaching that state.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely--it is Kurtz's "blunt honesty" that is important. Kurtz understands the horror of what he has done and Marlow is able to connect with understanding of our own potential for cruelty.
DeleteI agree as well. Looking at Kurtz - he realizes his personal truth (facing the reality of death and the impacts he had made during his lifetime) that makes him scream.
Delete1. Marlow hates lies, which makes it ironic when he decides to lie for Kurtz earlier in the book. This affects his loyalty to Kurtz drastically. Marlow constantly says that Kurtz “was a remarkable man.” He is a “universal genius” in Marlow’s eyes. Marlow also shows his loyalty to Kurtz by protecting the letters that Kurtz has given him and passing them onto people like his Intended and the family of Kurtz. Marlow says in the book that “it was something to have at least a choice of nightmares.” He is saying that he does not particularly like what Kurtz has done, but he likes that he is not hypocritical about it. When Kurtz says his last words, “the horror! the horror,” I think that Marlow sees this as a confession-type reaction. This shows that he knows what he did was wrong. Marlow does not like lies, so naturally he will not like two-faced people (like the Station Manager), and since Kurtz is not hypocritical about his work, I think that Marlow becomes more loyal to him. Marlow also appreciates work, and I think that that leads to his loyalty to Kurtz, because he never gave up on the work he set out to do.
ReplyDeleteI like the description of Marlow not liking "two-faced" people. I agree that Kurtz is not hypocritical although he is somewhat mad. It was a good analyse of Marlow and his views on Kurtz.
DeleteI agree with the idea of Marlow not liking what Kurtz has done, but liking the lack of hypocrisy. I think he recognizes that humanity is often a cruel thing, but those who pretend that they are giving despite their ulterior motives are the ones that really anger Marlow.
DeleteYour understanding of Kurtz's last words gave me a new perspective on why Marlow became more loyal to him that I never really took into consideration!
DeleteI like how you showed the fact that because Marlow doesn't like lies, he would naturally like Kurtz because he isnt two-faced about his work.
DeleteI like how you mentioned that Marlow may not necessarily agree with Kurtz's actions but he does appreciate his straightforwardness about confronting them.
DeleteI liked how you find irony in Marlow hating people lying, but infact goes and lies to help Kurtz.
Delete2. Kurtz's sickness is both literal and figurative. From the physical point of view, he is terminally ill, to the point of having to crawl on all fours in his attempt to escape. But from the symbolic standpoint, Kurtz's sickness can be seen as his obsession with greed and exploitation, especially in regards to the Congo. His attempted escape into the African jungle is explained because Africa is the one best place for Kurtz to fully exercise these obsessions, and therefore he feels the need to remain in order to carry out his dark ambitions. In a way, this compulsion to delve into Africa mirrors Marlow's sickness, who wants to explore the mysterious and discover the heart of darkness for himself. However, because Kurtz has been allowed to fester in the heart of darkness, he is nearly unable to be torn away from it, while Marlow on the other hand is not as affected because he has not delved into the rampant greed of his fellow Europeans.
ReplyDeleteI like how you talked about Kurtz's illness being both literal and figurative. Your idea of Kurtz's need to stay in the Congo to pursue his dark ambitions seems spot on.
DeleteI like how you pointed out that Kurtz was engrossed in the darkness of Africa, while Marlow was simply an observer of the darkness.
DeleteI liked how you brought in crawling on all fours! While that could go back to his illness, I also thought it was animalistic. It shows the apex of his ravenous nature.
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ReplyDeleteAfter Kurtz's death we see Marlow start to side more with Kurtz and see the good in Kurtz. Marlow would rather side with Kurtz who was always up front about things than the manager who tries to be deceptive because Marlow hates lies. Marlows describes his decision to support Kurtz as picking the lesser of two evils when he says,“it was something to have at least a choice of nightmares.” Despite all the wrong things Kurtz did I believe that his memory should be passed on. Even in today's society at funerals preachers highlight the good things and ignore the wrongs commited throughout the lives of the deceased. We all do wrongdoings in our lives but in the end those things should not affect our good memory of someone. For those reasons Kurtz did deserve to have his memory passed on to his intended. His intended deserves closure if nothing else.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Kurtz's memory should be passed on for the sake of his intended but also for everyone else that cared about Kurtz.
DeleteI like how you talked about preachers today highlighting the good. It shows that everyone tries to remembers the good in people after they pass.
DeleteI agree with you because I feel that we should not point out each others wrong doings since we all make mistakes. This reminds me of the documetnary we watched about the prison inmantes while reading the tempest. One of the inmantes expressed that he hoped the good things he did throughout his life could outweigh the bad, which is what I believe should be done for Kurtz and for the sake of his intended.
DeleteI agree that you should remember the good things about a person but you can't forget the bad things either. That is like forgiving hitler for killing all those Jews because he was a good father. Kurtz may have sometimes been good but he raided villages and exploited people, that can't be forgotten.
Delete1. Marlow's hatred of lies is the very reason why he admires Kurtz, despite his actions in the Congo. Characters like the manager are wearing a mask that hides their true nature under a layer of lies. Kurtz never chose to wear a mask at all and Marlow loved that about Kurtz-- he never tried to hide his feelings and intentions. Even though Marlow doesn't agree with what Kurtz has done, he likes the fact that Kurtz doesn't deny it. The loyalty to Kurtz only rose as he laid in bed with his last words, "the horror! The horror!" Marlow probably sees this as a reaction to his return to reality after realizing what he has done and hw he has acted towards others. Kurtz's hard working attitude, his true face, and his honesty all help push Marlow's loyalty to Kurtz through the roof.
ReplyDelete-Nik P.
The way that you used a mask to symbolize lies was very creative and allowed me to get a visual of the characters'states of morality.
DeleteI also love the imagery you used with the mask and yes, Marlow seems to mainly focus on the raw honesty of Kurtz rather than any other person who covered it up.
DeleteIt's ironic that Marlow dislikes people who lie, but yet he loves Kurtz who lies with almost everything he does. I really liked your point of view.
DeleteI agree that Marlow's adoration comes from his hatred of lies and that is what drives him tonne so loyal to Kurtz when he is dead. I really like the way you said he doesn't wear a mask because it contrasts earlier characters who were said to be hollow masks.
DeleteYou're right, it true that he loves Kurtz because of the lies and he believes it makes him more honest. Isn't that strange?
DeleteMarlow’s hatred of lies helps him connect intimately with Kurtz. Throughout Marlow’s voyage to the heart of darkness, he has been surrounded by innumerous lies. Rumors, plots, and secrets all around have disgusted Marlow. The manager is one of the worst offenders lying about his intentions to others, and plotting behind people’s backs. The only two people that Marlow has met that have been completely honest with him are the Russian and Kurtz. Now, Kurtz’s truth is very dark and filled with pain, however it is still the truth. As the old adage goes, “the truth shall set you free.” This demonstrates that the truth, notice how it does not matter if the truth brings good or bad news, is good and virtuous. The truth allows people to build opinions, and through that trust build trust. Marlow’s ability to remain loyal to Kurtz stems from Kurtz’s ability to tell the truth every time. The truth is the only light Marlow sees in the heart of darkness, and through this light Marlow is able to look past a lot of the darkness there and remain loyal to Kurtz. Marlow believes that since Kurtz has been able to remain truthful throughout everything that has happened in the Congo that he deserves to have his loyalty.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that the manager is one of the worst offenders when it comes to lying and going behind people's backs. I also agree that Kurtz and the Russian seem to be the only people who were honest with him. I really like how you showed that the truth set Kurtz free. Good job bringing back in the aspects of light and dark.
DeleteYour point about Marlow's hatred of lies is actually really interesting; I never thought of that. As I said in some earlier post, Kurtz is the only European that seems to be clear and straightforward about his motives for being in Africa. That's probably what causes Marlow to be such a fan.
Delete3. Marlow is a man who cares about the capacity of human beings and what this capacity means in our lives. Therefore, it is Kurtz’s capacity for passion and his ability to recognize the state of the human race that draws Marlow to him. When Marlow states, “He had something to say. He said it.” of Kurtz, T.S. Elliot’s “The Hollow Men” comes to mind. Kurtz is clearly not one of the “hollow men” or the “stuffed men.” He is a man who defies the logical and unfeeling cruelty of other men and allows himself to feel in a manner that is often selfish and angry. When T.S. Elliot states, “This is the way the world ends/Not with a bang but a whimper,” this statement does not apply to Kurtz, because Kurtz did indeed go out with a “bang.” “The horror! The horror!” he cried in his dying breath. This last breath was a show of understanding, of judgment, of depth. Kurtz exhibited an ability to analyze humanity and life and make a final judgment, as someone who was taken away from the place where he belonged and collapsed in this foreign environment (both in mind and in body).
ReplyDeleteKurtz was not an evil man for the things he did. He never had cruel intentions or logical ideologies. Instead, Kurtz was a childish and savage man who was reverted back to his most animalistic instincts when he was placed in a rather savage environment (much like the characters of Lord of the Flies, who were not inherently evil but rather confused). Therefore, Kurtz is a deserving man. He was someone who never had the opportunity to be saved, unlike Marlow, who recovered from his illness and left Africa. Kurtz was simply too far gone to come back. Kurtz represents passion, greed, and irrationality. These are not entirely evil things. These are the things that make us human.
#1) Readers see Marlow wanting a state of peace: "It was not my strength that wanted nursing, it was my imagination that wanted soothing" (66). Although we learned more about Kurtz by this point, there were still some unanswered mysteries to his existence. However, one important note we discover is Kurtz's realness, trueness to himself. He doesn't put up a facade like the manager, but instead he owns up to it: "...I found with humiliation that probably I would have nothing to say. This is the reason why I affirm Kurtz was a remarkable man. He had something to say. He said it" (65). Though Kurtz's last words, "The horror! The horror!" can be interpreted different ways, Marlow interpreted it in the best light as possible. He probably thought of it as remorse for his past devilish actions, showing a flicker of the goodness that was still left in him. Marlow says, "It was an affirmation, a moral victory paid for by innumerable defeats, by abominable terrors, by abominable satisfactions. But it was a victory" (65)! Obviously, Kurtz did not use his sagacity for good, but he did pursue his dreams, which Marlow gives him credit for. This ties back to the quote about the white patch of Africa - Marlow's longing to fulfill his dream of quest...Marlow's loyalty embraces Kurtz's diligence and puts his motives to the side. Kurtz excelled at his job, had passion - maybe the wrong kind of passion, but passion nonetheless - and that's all Marlow really cared about, marking Kurtz as a "universal genius" (67).
ReplyDeleteI like the thought process you used to intertwine Marlow's devotion to Kurtz and how he only cared to see Kurtz as the genius he was labeled for. I also agree with you that Kurtz did excel at his job, even if it was wrong.
Delete3) Marlow wishes to purge himself of all thoughts of Kurtz. He wishes to “surrender personally all that remained of him with me [Marlow] to that oblivion which is the last word of our common fate” (246).He feels this way because he thinks by forgetting the past he will be able to move on. He wants to get on with his life, move from this horrid section into the next era. Although one can often find Marlow speaking highly of Kurtz, who during his prime was a talented artist and genius, it is clear that Kurtz did not die a holy man. In fact, Marlow saw Kurtz only when he was on his deathbed, so all visual images of Kurtz are negative ones of death and despair. I do not believe that Kurtz memory should be passed on to his Intended. It isn’t a matter of “does Kurtz deserve to have these memories passed on”, but “does the Intended deserve to have these memories thrust upon her”. The Intended was devoted to Kurtz the entire time he was in Africa, despite Kurtz being unfaithful. Given that the woman was so steadfast, and on top of that has most likely just learned that her fiancée is dead, it would be wrong for Marlow to add insult to injury by passing on his knowledge of all the atrocities Kurtz committed while in Africa.
ReplyDeleteI think what you said was true about the Intended and how you said "it isn't a matter of 'does Kurtz deserve to have these memories passed on,' but does the Intended deserve to have these memories thrust upon her.'" Yes I agree that she doesn't need to know all the terrible details about Kurtz like how he cheated or how he had corrupt ways of getting ivory, but she does have the right to know about his death.
DeleteI agree that his intended doesnt deserve these memories. They were horrid memories that eventually drove Kurtz insane. His fiancee did nothing to deserve that burden. Also i like how you referenced Marlow's image of Kurtz.
DeleteI agree with the fact that it would be unfair for the Intended to be stuck with such horrid images and memories of Kurtz. While she deserves to know about Kurtz's death, I think it's better that she doesn't know the details of Kurtz's descent into madness.
Delete3.) Marlow wants to get rid of everything Kurtz related, even trying to with his own memory, because it was too much. He said that Kurtz spoke the truth of the situations he was in and it had deeply disturbed Marlow. He goes back to Europe and feels disgusted and in a way higher than everyone else because they do no know the truth, they are oblivious. The things that had happened on his expedition, things Marlow had heard, seen, and experienced were overbearing for him and he wants to forget it. He doesn't want to get enveloped into ivory obsessions like everyone else had and doesn't want to think about all the slaved Africans and what the Euros were really doing there. No I don't think that Kurtz's memory should be passed on to his Intended. He had not only cheated on her, but he had other materialistic thoughts while at the Congo. Sure, he was truthful and honest in what he really desired but if his Intended was to know about what he was really doing there, it would only further damage a person that had no fault in his insanity. I think it's better for Marlow to get rid of everything about Kurtz, without involving his Intended. To me, it didn't seem like she made a huge difference in Kurtz anyways, unlike his "bronze" mistress.
ReplyDeleteI honestly love how you focused on Kurtz' love life and related it back the woman in bronze. You clearly stated that Kurtz had a lover in the Congo, a kind of mistress that he had although he had a fiance in Europe. For me, I realized that the woman in bronze had an escalated significance to Kurtz when she had white ivory over her body. For someone who has so must greed and disillusion over his possessions over land and people, a woman who has the capability to wear KURTZ' ivory MUST be held dearly or in trust to Kurtz. She is powerful.
DeleteIn class, I remember how Julia mentioned that because the woman has power, Kurtz tries to subdue not out of love, but for the satisfaction of gaining control over someone of influence, to dominate, that also feeds his greed.
I like the see the different perspective, I put that his intended should know because she has no right to be lied to but now that I read yours, you make a good argument that he should be remembered for all the great things he did rather than all the bad things.
DeleteI think that Marlow feels the need to give up all that remained of Kurtz because it was his duty. The whole book, Marlow had been hearing stories of Kurtz and the life that Kurtz lived before he came into the heart of darkness and then during his stay in the darkness. Now, it's almost as if Marlow is the last person in Kurtz's life and the only person that really knows the end of Kurtz and his death. He holds a story that no one else knows. Maybe in a way, the story is a burden that Marlow is holding onto and once he let's it go, he will be free of his binding to Kurtz. I think that the memory of Kurtz should be passed onto his Intended because they were in love and they were going to get married but now he is gone. She has a right to know what happened to Kurtz. At the same time, I think that she needs to remember Kurtz in a good way and remember him as the man she fell in love with, so I think that his corrupt ways should be kept a secret from her.
ReplyDeleteWow, there's a lot of honor in how you thought of the wife's life as precious. All the intended needs to know to move on in her life is the acknowledgement of Kurtz' death. It would save the pain of a corrupted love. Still, the truth cannot be kept for too long hidden in the Congo, the heart of darkness. Although, I would want to help the fiance as much as I could, the truth of the colonization will have reached all of Europe including the intended. There are details to spare for the intended, but all in all, she deserves to know the truth not only in Kurtz but in the European influence in Africa. Women are often seen as feeble and innocent, too pure to know corruption, but kill two birds with one stone. Tell the truth and support feminism.
DeleteOn page 57, the Manager talks about the "unsound methods" of Kurtz madness about his ivory, which Marlow calls "no method at all" like the saying "method of madness." Marlow is torn between the two "nightmare choices" of siding with either Kurtz or the Manager; nevertheless, the base of how Marlow decides to support Kurtz is based on Marlow's despise for dishonesty. The Manager shows the greatest deception that honestly depicts most European colonists who have the heart of greed and pride masked by eloquent words and pseudo-hospitality such as when the Manager "advises" Kurtz to leave the Heart of Darkness for safety precautions but in truth wants Kurtz' gold. Kurtz, however, has been so worn out by the jungle's madness that he no longer hides his desires, his Id. Although both men hunger for riches in ivory and domination, Kurtz has no disguise and displays his darkness openly to Marlow. Truth is beauty.
ReplyDeleteI like how you described how Marlow wanted to side with Kurtz because he wasn't a deception. Both Kurtz and the manager were filled with "darkness" but atleast Kurtz was nothing but the truth.
Delete3. Marlow feels that he should forget and give up the memory of Kurtz because Kurtz's story is so tragic and it is basically the downfall of a good man. We see in the beginning of the story how Kurtz comes to Africa as an educated and humane man who came to teach the natives the way of the civilized countries. It is tragic to see the downfall of a great man into an insane savage so Marlow simply decides to leave the story of Kurtz in Africa. I believe his intended has the right to know what happened to Kurtz even though it is a tragic story. She needs to know the savage Kurtz became because she should not have to live with the lie that Kurtz was a "great man" when in reality he exploited the natives, cheated on her, and went mentally insane.
ReplyDeleteI dont think that Marlow wants to forget Kurtz. The part I think you are refering to is "his memory... I wanted to give that up too", but you did not take into account the last part of that sentence: "to the past, in a way". This second part shows that Marlow does not want to "forget and give up the memory of Kurtz", but instead that he does not want to corrupt it. That by thinking back on Kurtz and reanalyzing the person, Marlow might change his impression of a man he believes to be honorable.
Delete1. In Kurtz's death scene, Marlow comes to understand more about himself and Kurtz more than he has throughout the entire plot line up to this point. Marlow has always somewhat worshiped Kurtz due to his blatant fascination and obsession with his arrogant character and selfish actions. Kurtz greed somewhat shapes Marlow's mindset as well because he is constantly looking at Kurtz as a sort of role model. He is impressed by his unwavering power and ability to achieve his goals, no matter how difficult or inhumane they may seem. When Kurtz is dying, Marlow hears him whisper, "The horror! The horror!" This is a pivotal moment in the novel because it causes Marlow to experience a sort of epiphany and helps him realize the atrocities occurring all around him. It is noted that after Kurtz dies, Marlow has a very numb reaction and does not get as worked up as the others. His ties with the man that he worshiped are being severed and he reaches an overall state of enlightenment that he would have never been granted had Kurtz not passed away.
ReplyDeleteA role model or a specimen? The doctor in the beginning has stated that he wanted to inspect someone who had sucesfully made it out of the jungle, do you think Marlow is doing the same thing to Kurtz? His fascination has grew into an obsession.
DeleteI feel as though that Marlow has found an obsession to Kurtz because he is attached to what he knew about Kurtz before he actually met him. This lingering thought encourages Marlow to stay loyal to Kurtz and carry on his memory to the intended, even though Kurtz is a horrible person. I personally dont believe that Kurtz should continue to be remembered as he is a terrible person, however sometimes the glimmer of hope seen in a person is enough to bond two people together.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you in the sense that Marlow's obsession with Kurtz is related to the rumors that Marlow heard about Kurtz. Since he had not yet met Kurtz, everything he knew about him was through the grapevine; Marlow is definitely holding on to those ideas.
DeleteThis is something that I have thought about many times. I was always asking myself, why does Marlow still care about Kurtz? And you produced the same answer I did, he wants to hold onto the Kurtz that was in his head, not the one he met. But once Kurtz dies, the Kurtz in his head seems to die too. After Kurtz's death, Marlow says that "[t]he voice was gone" (Conrad). I also agree with you that Kurtz shouldn't be only remembered for the bad things that he did.
DeleteAgree with you on how Marlow found an obsession to Kurtz! I feel the same on how during the process of creating Kurtz into this illusion in his mind, he became attached to the idea of Kurtz and wanted to keep a hold of the Kurtz in his mind and not the one he met. Also love how you said that Kurtz sometimes has a glimmer of hope because it is true that Kurtz wasn't always so bad a corrupted!
DeleteKurtz' attempt to escape off of the boat is a prime representation of his mental "sickness." By being in the heart of darkness for a period of time, Kurtz was slowly driven mad. This mental "illness", or madness, relates to something we discussed in class today: Kurtz' ambition. His madness is greatly attributed to his greed for ivory; in order to acquire the ivory and develop the greed for it, Kurtz had to be ruthless. This ambitious and daring attitude is shown when he tries to escape back into the heart of darkness. Even though he is fatally ill, he still wants to continue his dark activities in the Congo and obtain more ivory. This goes along with Marlow's sickness because Marlow also wants to venture into the heart of darkness. Both of these characters show a certain darkness that can be connected to their "sicknesses."
ReplyDeleteI do agree that Kurtz trying to escape was probably because of how sick he was. You did a good job explaining Kurtz' mindset and the way he thought and how he thought it was right. Do you think the fact that he could not control his death or his plan any more could have made him want to abandon ship in order to regain control of his life?
Delete[Response to question 3]
ReplyDeleteThe reasoning behind Marlow's weird infatuation with Kurtz has always been a bit foggy to me. It could be that he sees Kurtz as an innocent who was corrupted by Africa and therefore can't really see him as a bad person at heart (GET IT? HEART?? HA HA! Like... you know... of Darkness...?) I believe that Kurtz does indeed deserve to have his memory passed on to his intended. That's not to say that she'd WANT it, especially if Marlow felt compelled to enlighten her as to Kurtz' relationship with the random African warrior princess lady. In all seriousness though, Kurtz was described as a very thoughtful and intelligent character up until Marlow met him, thus showing that he wasn't always a racist genocide-crazed weirdo. This alone warrants some sort of continuation of his memory.
We did that answering right after each other thing again... I absolutuely agree that it is weird how much Marlow obsesses over this huy he hardly knows. I think Marlow is mostly in awe of Kurtz's dominance over his life (except of course, in terms of his ability to live, being that he's sick and all). Kurtz has managed to make the most of the life he has been given and that seems to facinate Marlow. (and Patrick, I really like the diction you use in this post :P)
DeleteKurtz would not have asked Marlow to take the papers if not to pass them on. He deserves to have his memory passed on because a memory is all that is left of him. It is all his beloved has left. Kurtz deserves to have the woman he loves keep a part of him, his words. Marlow feels compelled to give up the remains because he realizes, when looking at the woman, that they are not his to keep. Since he never really knew the man, he is left with a “vague impress on the brain of shadows” (94). Thus, his memory of Kurtz is all he needs to keep admiring and respecting the man. The girl, however, may need something more substantial. His loyalty to Kurtz gives Marlow the urge to return Kurtz’s last remains (of sorts) to his Intended: “Perhaps it was an impulse of unconscious loyalty… I went.” (Conrad 94). Marlow honors Kurtz by giving Kurtz’s remains and Kurtz’s memory to Kurtz’s beloved instead of keeping them for himself.
ReplyDeleteI agree with all your statements except the one about the "woman he loves." I just think that's a bit questionable since Kurtz went off and had some kind of weird ivory-themed affair with some African lady, not an overly loving act when engaged to one's beloved. But hey, we inferred the crap out of this book, maybe Kurtz didn't even have a relationship with that African lady, we don't friggin' know. Well, I don't.
DeleteFor the majority of Marlow's time in the Congo, he had not met Kurtz. He had heard all about him, but not met him. Marlow developed an obsession with Kurtz based on the things he had been told. Upon meeting Kurtz, Marlow realizes that Kurtz does not hide the truth about his actions. Marlow respects this about Kurtz because he hates lies, which leads to a greater sense of loyalty. Marlow feels the need to carry on the truth to the Intended. I think the Intended deserves to know about Kurtz's death; however, she does not need to be burdened with the horrific truth of Kurtz's actions.
ReplyDeleteWhile I agree with Marlow's devotion to Kurtz coming from his hatred of lies, I disagree with what he should tell Kurtz 's intended because if he doesn't tell her the whole truth he would be a hypocrite. Although he previously allowed the station manager to believe an untrue statement about him, I don't think he would be okay with lying to Kurtz 's Intended
DeleteI liked what you said about his loyalty stemming from Kurtz not hiding the truth about his actions. Though Marlow seemed to not care so much about Kurtz before meeting him, I think Kurtz's last words changed his mind about him. He sees Kurtz as repenting his sins. Because of this and, like you said, his desire for the truth, he feels like he needs to tell the truth about Kurtz to the Intended.
DeleteI also agree. Kurtz didn't hide anything. He said that he'll bring ivory which he did, but in a corrupted and evil method. Also, the Intended should just live with a happy memory of Kurtz instead of torturing her to the end.
Delete1.) Marlow talks about how he hates lies early in the book. He does not like the manager because he is a lying and deceitful person. Marlow soon latches onto the “voice” of Kurtz because he is a smart person, a genius, and does not seem to be untruthful. When Marlow finally meets Kurtz, he gets what he wants (sorta…). Kurtz is an honest person, but at the same time he is not a good person. But still, Marlow still takes Kurtz’s side; his choice of the two “nightmares.” I believe that he chooses Kurtz because he’s honest and also because he still clings to the “voice” of Kurtz he had in his head before he met Kurtz.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Marlow connects himself to the inexplicable nirvana of truth at the edge of darkness because once Kurtz dies the “voice” goes along with him. Marlow’s judgment is no longer clouded and he can see more clearly. He is still loyal to Kurtz, in a way, but I believe he does this because no one else would have been and Kurtz’s memory would have died out completely if not for him. Although Kurtz was a bad man, I believe that Marlow saw the best in him and wanted to keep him that way to others, but not hide the truth.
I like how you said that Marlow picks the lesser of two evils between the manager and Kurtz, and how without Marlow, Kurtz's memory would die out.
DeleteMarlow wishes to rid himself of all that Kurtz left, but he is not quite sure why he feels he needs to do so. He says "perhaps it was an impulse of unconscious loyalty or the fulfillment of one of these ironic necessities that lurk in the facts of human existence." Through this he admits he doesn't know why he thinks he needs to find Kurtz's Intended, but he offers possible reasons. He may be doing it to show his loyalty to Kurtz even though Kurtz is dead or it could be plain curiosity. I do believe Kurtz's memory should be passed on because his Intended does deserve some form of closure and only Marlow can bring that since he was with Kurtz when Kurtz died. Also Kurtz proved himself to be an interesting man. He was not dishonest so his fiance deserves to know that about him. Kurtz did have faults and was not the kindest to the natives, however he did his job and created respect for himself, so even though he was cruel in many aspects, he was not an entirely cruel man.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with you that his fiance would require some form a closure about her beloved. After all, Kurtz has been in the Congo for quite a long while, and I doubt his Intended has heard much from him within those months. She might have already assumed the worst, but it would be rather cruel of Marlow to leave her guessing, never knowing. And after seeing so much cruelty (despite the small flicker or remaining purity) within Kurtz's heart, I doubt he would be eager to emulate such meanness. Marlow knows what it is like to be in a suspended state of wishing and uncertainty, and he wouldn't want Kurtz's Intended to feel the same.
DeleteI think Marlow feels compelled to give up all that remains of Kurtz because he had spent so much time obsessing and creating this illusion of Kurtz's in his mind; when Marlow finally did meet Kurtz, many times in the book he characterized him as a child, being frail and skinny, crawling on all four, waiting for people to come to him, etc. I feel like Marlow wants to give up all that remains of Kurtz because it was just too much for him; watching a good, ambitious man come into the Congo and die there filled with corruption and insanity, who wouldn't want to try and erase that from their mind? I don't think Kurtz deserves to have his memory passed down to his Intended, but I do believe that Marlow should tell Kurtz's Intended about the truth of Kurtz and how he is not the man that she once loved and that he was a corrupted, mentally ill, cheating, decieving and dark man.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I don't understand why she even has to know. It's not like there's anything we can do about it. We're just torturing her for no reason. I mean I guess she can move on, but why through pain?
DeleteSince marlow hates liars, then he would dislike the station manager for being 2 faced and a liar, and in fact would like Kurtz. Since he never met Kurtz face to face til the end, he could have thought of him as a truthful person and believed what he wanted to about kurtz. Since marlow thinks that kurtz is an honest person, then he would chose his side over the managers side. Even though Kurtz was a bad man, Marlow didnt want to believe it and only wanted to believe he was good because he told the truth and didnt lie. I think that Marlow will always be loyal to kurtz and respect him even after everything that he has heard about him. Marlow admired Kurtz's honesty, and his motivation to work.
ReplyDeleteI think that Kurtz' "sickness" caused him to plan out everything and insist control. Because of this, Kurtz was not used to being carted around and not be in control of what happened to him. He was so sick that he could no longer freely carry out his "plan" and this conflict was not part of that exact plan in the first place and he needed to regain control. By trying to escape, Kurtz took his life back into his own hands and tried to live out as much of his plan as possible. I do think that Marlow is becoming Kurtz in a way and possibly is becoming sick like Kurtz, but as of right now, nothing drastic is occurring to Marlow's health state because of Kurtz.
ReplyDeleteI liked what you said about Kurtz not being able to carry out his "plan." I think his escape attempt was his last shot at fulfilling his goal, but it never happened. As to Marlow, maybe his body isn't deteriorating like Kurtz's did, but maybe his mental state is becoming more ill.
DeleteI've never thought of it that way before! Kurtz is considerably possessive and obsessive, and your post is make me reconsider just how long Kurtz may have known himself to be a dead man walking. Perhaps long ago in one of his trips to Nowhere, he glimpsed within his own heart and saw how little time left and maybe hoped that by seizing control over everything, even as a god, he might avert the Fate waiting for him in the darkness. Kurtz may have thought the steamboat to be the ferry along the river Styx, and felt that if he could escape before the water ran into the sea of "inexorable time" he may yet live.
DeleteKurtz came to the Congo with the best intentions possible, and i think that is what he should be remembered for. Though Kurtz committed many atrocities, the memory that he should be held in is one of praise and honor. Marlow wants to forget the memory of Kurtz's wrongdoings but he should not forget what he originally came to the Congo for. Like Marlow, Kurtz came with the intention to help the people, and i believe that thought should be shared with his intended. The cheating and the ivory should be kept a secret in order to protect the intended from receiving more pain that she does not deserve. Yes, i believe that she has the right to know the truth, but this means that she would have to live with the fact that her fiance fell into the heart of darkness and was not able to get back up.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree with you, but I'm not sure whether Kurtz's intention to "suppress savage customs" of Africans is necessarily good and something to be remembered for. I feel like we have to remember that our narrator is not necessarily unbiased. He holds a lot of respect for Kurtz and treats Kurtz's wrongdoings as moral misdeeds that he had little control over, a view that I'm not sure I agree with.
DeleteMarlow's attitude towards Kurtz almost doesn't change even after he finds out the true side of Kurtz; the greedy and the selfish side. This might be due to the fact that Marlow despises lies and has an obsession with truth. Moreover, for this reason, Marlow does not like the manager who pretends to be civilized and acts like he has good intentions for the Congo. Although I personally think that the manager is smart for being secretive about his true and evil side, Marlow regards him as a lie and despises him. Ironically, Marlow respects and prefers Kurtz to the manager because Kurtz is evil in and out. He does not pretend to be something he is not, which Marlow appreciates. This is ironic because 'truth' has a positive connotation while Kurtz has almost nothing positive about him.
ReplyDeleteI like what you pointed out about the connotation of "truth." I do wonder though, if Marlow respects Kurtz for not hiding his "evil" side, then why does he not tell Kurtz's finacee his last words? Why does he not want her to know?
DeleteWith Kurtz's escape attempt, I think it shows how controlled he is by his darkened heart. Marlow says, " The long reaches that were like one and the same reach, monotonous bends that were exactly alike, slipped past the steamer with their multitude of secular trees looking patiently after this grimy fragment of another world, the forerunner of change, of conquest, of trade, of massacres, of blessings (Conrad 90)." I think this shows that Kurtz's "illness" was his blackened heart. I think his escape demonstrates how his "sickness" is incurable, how even on his deathbed, he wants to conquer the jungle. Eventually, he grows tired of this and tells Marlow to close the shutters so he doesn't have to look at the jungle anymore. He then goes on to say, " Oh, but I will wring your heart yet!" Basically, I think his escape attempt shows how his desire to control the jungle cannot be fulfilled. It's obvious that Marlow has changed because of the heart of darkness. He says that he resented seeing people and he became ill. Marlow says, " It was not my strength that wanted nursing, it was my imagination that wanted soothing (Conrad 93)." I think Marlow is affected by a blackened heart, like Kurtz's. We see Marlow becoming like Kurtz most when he says, " ... and while I waited he seemed to stare at me out of the glassy panel-- stare with that wide and immense stare embracing condemning loathing all the universe. I seemed to hear the whispered cry. "The horror! The horror (Conrad 95)!" meaning his reflection has taken on the form of Kurtz. This is when Marlow sees that he is becoming like Kurtz, full of hatred and condemnation of others.
ReplyDeleteThis a viewpoint on Kurtz's illness I had not considered prior. The idea that Kurtz's illness is his blackened heart leads to the notion that succumbing to this darkness killed him. Do you believe that Marlow does not believe in saving the white man's soul in Africa?
DeleteIf we tie his sullied heart and his illness together, that then brings up the question: Did his heart become immoral from his illness/being in Africa or was it because he was already a bad person that he became ill?
DeleteKurtz' attempted escape back into the jungle emphasizes his sickness both physically and mentally. Obviously his illness has made him delirious as he stumbles through the jungle mumbling incoherently. However, his mental sickness proves to be far more significant. Kurtz at the brink of death is coming to terms with his life up until that point, reflecting on his actions and coming to realizations about the lack of morality in the life he's lived. Marlow even sees this inner conflict, by simply watching Kurtz. "He struggled with himself, too. I saw it,—I heard it. I saw the inconceivable mystery of a soul that knew no restraint, no faith, and no fear, yet struggling blindly with itself." His escape into the jungle shows how crazed and obsessed he's become with power. With his power tied to the heart of darkness, Kurtz himself has become a part of the heart of darkness. His power is not a want at this point, but a necessity for the person he has become. And as he is slowly being torn away from the heart, he is essentially losing his will to live and thus slowly dying. This is extremely significant to Marlow's moral sickness as well. It foreshadows a dark future that Marlow could fall into. By depicting Kurtz' scramble to the jungle, the reader sees the potential for Marlow to become what Kurtz has become. Conrad contrasts the two against each other to paint an eerie image of Marlow's future and to reveal the dark changes that the heart of darkness can instigate.
ReplyDeleteI never thought about the possible foreshadowing of Marlow's future as a result of his own moral blackening. good point.
Delete2. Kurtz's attempt to escape the boat demonstrates that he is aware of the evilness of his past actions. The darkness of the jungle provides a cover for him. Kurtz's shame is inherently self-contained, as not only is he revered as a prodigy outside of the jungle, Europeans would not have judged him for his greed. Kurtz's attempt to escape represents his attempt to run away from himself, and his sickness is self-awareness.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, Marlow's "sickness," or the desire to explore the heart of darkness, is not self-awareness, but an obsession. Throughout his narrative, Marlow appears to be trying to find himself through his idealized image of Kurtz, a dream that is shattered with Kurtz's death: "it is his extremity I seemed to have lived through." While this makes Marlow an excellent narrator in that his own feelings do not interfere with the reader's own, it does not indicate him as a particularly self-aware person. So I was pondering, does this quality make Marlow a "darker" person than Kurtz? Also, just because Kurtz may be self-aware, does this necessarily make him deserving of "justice," as Marlow implies?
I like the idea that the jungle could provide a cover for him because as long as he is there, he can live in the illusion. Returning to Europe would mean having to face his own conscience, and this is something he is not prepared to do. The idea that his moral deterioration killed him is something I had not previously thought of.
DeleteI thought it was interesting of how you thought Kurt's attempt to escape was a way to escape from himself.
Delete1. Marlow's connection to the inexplicable nirvana of truth at the edge of darkness impacts his loyalty to Kurtz due to the fact that Kurtz's last words of "the horror! the horror!" (Conrad 86) lead Marlow to think that he has repented for his sins. In later reflection, Marlow even states that perhaps "all truth and all sincerity are just compressed into that inappreciable moment of time in which we strep over the threshold" (Conrad 88). Through this statement, the reader is led to believe that Marlow has convinced himself that Kurtz is truly sorry of the pain and suffering he has caused in Africa. Because he believes that Kurtz has reached this level of enlightenment about himself, Marlow believes that he can remain loyal to him. In addition, Marlow's previous stated that he detests liars adds to the notion to he will chose to remain loyal to Kurtz over the Manager. Both men are equally cold, manipulative, and cruel, but the manager hides all of this behind a facade of spreading civilization. Kurtz chooses to instead show his true intentions, and this is admirable in Marlow's eyes as he believes "it was something to have at least a choice of nightmares" (Conrad 77). Consequently, this choice was Kurtz.
ReplyDeleteAt the precipice of death, Marlow sees a horrid sight: the human heart at its rawest and most despicable state, and he names it Truth. He reaches an enlightenment within himself, about the evanescent nature of a single life, what he considers to be the truth within the heart of all human existence. Marlow always state that he abhorred lies, thus seeing so terrible a truth could only be considered beautiful to him. This attraction towards verity affected his loyalty to Kurtz even before the cruel man's death, making Marlow side with attempting to keep Kurtz alive until they could get him medicine and keeping the crew members from shooting the innocent natives, crying out for their dying god. Through this perspective, Marlow also saw immense beauty in the girl's expression from Kurtz's oil painting. Though the sunlight cast a sinister emotion across her face, the evil wasn't hidden. It was truth on canvas, a representation both of Kurtz and of colonization's effects upon Africa. Even though the truth may be ugly, as in Kurtz's malevolent actions and his lifetime's worth of emotions in death, Marlow allies himself to Kurtz from the powerful beauty he sees within so truthful and tormented a soul. Marlow even describes Kurtz's soul as being "as translucently pure as a cliff of crystal" (Conrad 65, Dover Thrift). I believe that it is not a notion of salvation but an acknowledgement of the truth that Kurtz faces in his last words, and that it why Marlow swears loyalty to the man even in death. No matter how terrified, Kurtz accepted the truth instead of lying to himself that all his actions were justified entirely, and Marlow sees that as a remarkable beauty that only few men could ever hope to achieve.
ReplyDeleteI love your connection back to the painting from earlier in the novella! Do you think that maybe it is also because Kurtz was a voice to Marlow for so long that he doesn't want to give up the idealized Kurtz he has in his mind?
DeleteKurtz's attempt to escape from the boat into the jungle shows how the sickness that he had was his obsession with the jungle. It was his heart of darkness that called to him and made him mad. The jungle itself has poisoned kurtz's body and soul and he believes he must stay with it. Delusional Kurtz states, "I had immense plans" (82). This sickness has made him crazy for ivory. He believes he has "plans" to get as much ivory as possible. Kurtz crawling on the floor through the jungle symbolizes his attempt to completely go into the heart of darkness forever: death. This is also connected to Marlow's sickness. As Marlow gets closer with Kurtz, he begins to admire the man. Marlow is beginning to become more like Kurtz thus contracting this sickness.He says, "I remained to dream the nightmare out the end, and show my loyalty once more" (87). Marlow has become sick by beginning to become obsessed with Kurtz and believe in what he believes in.
ReplyDelete2. Kurtz' attempt to escape off the boat and back into the jungle demonstrate how his sickness impacts him physically and mentally. Kurtz is so determined and ambitious about carrying out his dark desires and obsession over ivory, he doesn't care about his own health or even the possible danger that he might get killed in the process of it. His sickness impacts him in a way that completes him as part of the darkness internally and externally. He crawls in all fours like an animal and when Marlow catches him off guard he comes up "like a viper". This shows how he has become a part of the jungle and darkness itself not only in an instinctually way but also in an ambitious way. His sickness traps his mind and body to the Congo because it has taken over his mind in a way that makes him drive for more of the pursuit of his dark desires.
ReplyDeleteWow absolutely right. It does demonstrate the toll his sickness has had on him. He is acting crazy
DeleteKurtz throughout the book, has been a dynamic character. Initially, Marlow heard some wonderful things about him, which increased his eagerness to meet him. Nevertheless, after their encounter, Marlow is disappointed at the person Kurtz is. He is a man hungry for power. He is not in any way supporting the natives: "Exterminate those brutes". He is also very seek, yet will power even through the point of death. Marlow feels that he has to give up all that remains of Kurtz, because of the man he has become. The several horrors he [Kurtz] has committed to the native land. It is getting to the climax of the book and this is usually when characters make resolutions to change and to leave their past behind. To Marlow, Kurtz represents a past better left behind than taken forward.I don't believe Kurtz deserves to have his memory passed on, because it is not something worth remembering. Even he [Kurtz] believes it is not worth remembering, which is why he states "the horror, the horror", at the end as a sign of acceptance and regret of the things he has done in life.
ReplyDelete3. In contemplating whether Kurtz himself deserves to have his memory passed on, I think of two different scenarios. At the end of the film Pan's Labyrinth, the antagonist, a ruthless Spanish general during the Spanish Civil War, surrounded by the rebel anti-Fascists who are ready to kill him, pleads his enemies to tell his baby son (whom they have kidnapped and plan on raising) to tell him his father's name and how he died, just as his father did for him. The rebels tell him in no uncertain terms that they plan on never telling his son about him and that his memory will die with him so that his son will not be inspired to become like him.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, we preserve the memories of terrible people such as Hitler, Stalin, and Mao Tsedong in order to ensure that history does not repeat its mistakes. The question then must be asked if it is better to live in blissful ignorance or to live with a horrible truth.
I personally think the only reason that Kurtz' memory should be passed on is for the sake of his fiancee so she can have some sort of closure about Kurtz' death. Although we don't know exactly how much she may care for him, Kurtz' obsession over "My Intended" implies that at the very least, he values her. Certainly, if she does actually love him, she deserves to know the truth about the terrible man he became. Marlow lying to protect Kurtz' memory will only hurt "His Intended" in the end; if she doesn't know what happened now, she'll probably find out later anyways, and it's better to hear this kind of bad news about a person first-hand rather than from rumors and whispers.
i really enjoy your connections with how we preserve the memories of terrible people such as Hitler, Stalin and Mao. To answer your question I would rather live in blissful ignorance. We will just have to wait what Conrad decides to do.
DeleteTo give up all the things that belonged to Kurt demonstrates Marlow's loyalty towards Kurtz. He wants the rest of Kurtz memories to be passed on to those who should know, such as his intended. "To surrender personally all that remained of him" - this quote describes Marlow's loyal decision to pass on Kurtz memories to those he loved during his life. To add on, Kurtz, in a way, expected Marlow to do so because he thinks of him almost as a protege.
ReplyDeleteKurtz attempt to escape into the jungle demonstrates how the darkness of greed and prejudiced ultimately consumed him, and perhaps his relinquishing of himself to the Congo, the same place where it was his initiative to "Exterminate all the Brutes" (conrad 60). This is further corroborated by his continual talks of gathering more and more ivory. Comparatively, we also see Marlow descend into the heart of darkness likewise as despite continual instances of Kurtz's faults in the form of greed and power, we still see Marlow continually admire Kurtz. Marlow's descend into darkness becomes materialized with his consequent illness demonstrating the growing darkening of his heart, and is further illustrated in Marlow's bout with death as his heart teetered on the fine line of darkness and light.
ReplyDeleteI sure do think that Kurtz deserves to have his memory passed on to his intended. Now, the fact of the matter is will she get the truth or not? As Julia has stated above we are taught the history of people such as Hitler, Stalin, and Mao to teach future generations. The intended has a right to know what has happened, but also connecting back to Julia's comment I believe it is better for her to not have learned the true nature or Kurtz, because at the time of his departure he was the amazing man Marlow thought he was in the beginning. Her fiance has passed away she does not need to be bombarded with such gruesome facts. As for why did Marlow need to tell the intended, I felt like he needed to purge his connections to Kurtz, because he had pity for Kurtz.
ReplyDeleteYou bring up an interesting point about the reason Marlow felt that he eventually had to go see Kurtz's Intended. I thought it had to do solely with him feeling sorry for Kurtz, however, I did not really think about him having to "purge" himself of Kurtz. Great analysis!
DeleteI think as Kurtz decays, Marlow feels more sympathetic and obsessed with Kurtz; therefore, Marlow yearns to relinquish every aspect of Kurtz within him. Throughout Marlow’s journey in the Congo, he highly anticipated the reunion with Kurtz and to witness the prodigy he has heard. Nevertheless, the reality of Kurtz’s destructive transformation crushed Marlow’s illusion, hence, Marlow just wanted to surrender every connection with Kurtz; it was too overwhelming for Marlow. Moreover, I don’t think Kurtz’s intended should know about Kurtz’s memory, because there is nothing anyone can do. Why ruin the Intended’s illusion of Kurtz if Kurtz is dead? I mean, Kurtz isn’t going to resurrect from the dead and compensate of the evil things he committed. What is done is done, so why torture the Intended with what Kurtz has become, however, if Kurtz was alive and came back to his Intended, then I think she should know about what he has dealt with and how it affected him.
ReplyDeleteEven if Marlow can't resurrect Kurtz or change his fate, shouldn't his Intended at least have some closure? I get where you're coming from, but in my opinion, the least his Intended deserves is to know the truth about Kurtz. Yes it may not be exactly what she wants to hear, but I feel like this will be more beneficial to her in the long run.
DeleteUpon arriving into the heart of darkness, Marlow is connected back to the "nirvana" of truth, and in spite of the fact that Kurtz throughout the novel has displayed negative qualities of greed and corruption, becomes more loyal to this mysterious man. Marlow opts instead to "ally" with Kurtz against the station manager because in his eyes, the manager represents the worst kind of Europeans in the Congo. Unlike Kurtz who does not necessarily take lengths to to hide his true self, the station manager poses as a benevolent man whose primary interest is to help civilize the natives. Marlow sees through this facade, and consequently chooses the preferable of "nightmares" while within the heart of darkness, leading him to become the only man Kurtz trusts to divulge information about his Intended.
ReplyDelete